Love Burned, She Rose Unscathed

At ten in the evening, the snow began to fall silently again. Owen closed his umbrella, shaking off the accumulating snowflakes, which soon melted into water droplets.

The lab had faced many issues, one problem after another. Even for someone as seasoned as Owen, it was starting to take its toll.

As the end of the year approached, the festive spirit grew stronger. He hadn't had a good night's sleep in days. However, with the lab data finally corrected to safe levels, and considering it was almost time for the holiday season, he decided to give everyone a few days off.

Fumbling for his keys, Owen was about to unlock his door when he heard the door behind him open.

A cozy, yellow glow washed over the floor and onto him, lighting up the dim corridor.

Roseanne's voice was like a warm ember in the cold winter air. "Mr. Reynolds, you're home early today. Mrs. Thompson on the third floor had a granddaughter and sent over the invitation for the baby's baptism this afternoon. I've got yours here. Give me a moment, and I'll grab it for you."

Owen, whose senses were usually sharper than most, felt his mind lag a half beat behind at the sound of her clear, gentle voice. It wasn't until a small basket was pressed into his hands, filled with several perfectly round cupcakes and a jar of her homemade beef stew, that he snapped back to reality.

It took him a moment to respond with a deep, slightly hoarse "Thank you."

cold breeze swept through the hallway, causing Roseanne to shiver. "I've warmed up the stew and cupcakes for you. Eat them while they're hot. I'll close

out, and the door closed once

and turned on the light,

down, he

and opened the beef stew. The

took a bite, finding the seasoning just right. Glancing at the cupcakes,

but eventually

stew. Surprisingly, it

bad.

his body. He lounged lazily on

a few times

he knew

gathering at the old house. This year, with plans to

calls, the evening